Unitel Communications has picked Young & Rubicam and MacLaren McCann to handle its account estimated at more than $20 million.

Incumbent Ogilvy & Mather was also on the short-list of three.

Young & Rubicam has been given agency-of-record duties in addition to direct marketing.

MacLaren McCann has responsibility for creative and strategic planning.

New advertising is expected soon.

Later this year, the new agencies could be handling the introduction of the at&t brand to Canada.

Last September, AT&T Canada and a consortium of three banks bought Unitel from Canadian Pacific and Rogers Communications.

The new ownership allows Unitel to use the at&t brand.

Carleen Carroll, of Unitel public affairs, says the company is now reviewing its products and is moving forward to take advantage of the equity in the at&t name.

In the u.s., New York-based at&t’s agency roster is made up of McCann-Erickson, fcb and y&r.

at&t also recently awarded McCann the corporate advertising assignment for its new equipment company, which will consolidate all of at&t’s equipment business under one banner.

The company is expected to launch this March with a worldwide campaign estimated to be between US$40 million to US$70 million.